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71 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What are 3 characteristics of minerals? |
1. Minerals are crystalline solids 2. Naturally occurring substances 3. Minerals exist as elements or compounds |
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The resistance of a mineral to bring scratched is known as: |
Hardness |
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Metamorphosed sandstone is called |
Quartzite |
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______ is the simplest silicate containing only silicon and oxygen. |
Quartz |
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_________ is the most abundant carbonate mineral. |
Calcite |
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________ sedimentary rocks are those formed from fragments of preexisting rocks. |
Clastic |
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________ metamorphism occurs adjacent to a cooling magma body. |
Contact |
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__________ consist of a single element. |
Minerals/native elements |
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Is limestone a sedimentary rock? |
Yes |
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The process of lithification produces: |
Sedimentary rocks |
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The lithosphere |
Is the thickest under the continents, thinnest beneath the oceans. |
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The asthenosphere lies entirely within |
The upper mantle |
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The study of paleomagnetism has revealed that |
Earth's magnetic field has reverse many times |
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The origin of earth's magnetic field is probably due to |
Electric currents in the fluid outer core. |
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Ocean floor rocks on opposite sides of an ocean ridge show |
Symmetrical and alternating bands of normal and reverse magnetization |
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Island arcs are associated with |
Ocean-ocean convergences |
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What are three factors used to determine the rates and directions of plate movements. |
1.polar-wander curves 2.seafloor spreading 3.mantle hot spots |
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Lithospheric plates move at an average rate of ________ per year. |
2 to 3 centimeters |
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Hot spots: |
Remain stationary as lithospheric plates move over them. |
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Plate tectonic processes on earth have been active for at least |
2 billion years |
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Slow gradual moving along a fault is called |
Creep |
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The point of first break or rapture on a fault during an earthquake is called the |
Focus |
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Earthquakes originate in the: |
Lithosphere |
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Earthquake P waves: |
Are compressional waves |
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Three statements that are explained by the elastic rebound theory? |
1. The generation of earthquakes along fault zones 2.the likely recurrence of earthquakes along the same fault zone 3.the concept of seismic gap |
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At present, we can predict |
The regions where major earthquakes are likely to occur in the future |
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In the United States, earthquake intensity is usually measured on the |
Modified Mercalli Scale |
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Relative to an earthquake of magnitude 5 on the Richter magnitude scale, an earthquake of magnitude 7 releases |
900 times more energy |
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An earthquake having a magnitude of 5-6.9 would be described as a |
Moderate earthquake |
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An earthquake having a magnitude of 8-9+ would be described as a |
Destructive earthquake |
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The problem of liquefaction can be somewhat reduced by |
Installing efficient underground drainage systems |
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What are 3 physical properties that are reliable guides to mineral identification in hand specimens?
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1.hardness 2.cleavage 3.streak |
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Which of the following is a chemical sedimentary rock?
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limestone |
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The correct sequence of minerals arranged in order of increasing hardness is: |
talc, calcite, quartz, corundum. |
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The two fundamental characteristics that distinguish a mineral from all other minerals are its
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chemical composition and crystal structure.
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Magmas that crystallize rapidly produce igneous rocks characterized by _____ mineral crystals.
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fine grained |
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___________ are examples of native elements
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Sulfur, gold, and graphite
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Most minerals belong to the ______ group
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silicate
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A mineral property that can be observed without using a test is:
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cleavage
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Tectonics is the study of:
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the origin and arrangement of the broad structural features of Earth's surface
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The age of the volcanoes comprising the Hawaiian chain of islands:
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increases towards the northwest
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The solid and rigid outermost layer of the earth is called the .
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lithosphere
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The concept that rocks are constantly subject to change and that any type of rock can be transformed into another type of rock is called the
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rock cycle
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Broad symmetrical ridges that cross ocean basins are called:
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mid-ocean ridges
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The puzzle-like fit of the continents, similarity of rock types across continents, and glacial evidence all were pieces of evidence supporting Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift. What was another piece of supporting evidence?
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distribution of similar fossils across multiple continents
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Which of the following is associated with a mid-ocean ridge?
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magma produced as the mantles rise up
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The San Andreas fault is an example of:
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a transform fault.
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Which of the following describes continental rifting?
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occurs on a continent ;
includes a broad uplift of the land surface as magma ascends |
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Continental crust differs from oceanic crust in that it
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contains more light minerals than oceanic crust.
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Of the earth’s major compositional zones, the largest is the
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mantle
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The earth’s inner core is composed mostly of
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iron
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3 physical properties that are reliable guides to mineral identification in hand specimens?
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hardness
cleavage streak |
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The two fundamental characteristics that distinguish a mineral from all other minerals are its
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chemical composition and crystal structure.
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The correct sequence of minerals arranged in order of increasing hardness is
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talc, calcite, quartz, corundum.
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The theory of continental drift was initially rejected by many American scientists because
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few scientists believed it possible for the continents to move over a solid earth.
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The origin of earth’s magnetic field is probably due to
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electric currents in the fluid outer core.
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New lithosphere is created at:
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divergent plate boundaries.
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The Himalaya and Appalachian Mountains were formed by
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plate convergence.
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The age of the volcanoes comprising the Hawaiian chain of islands
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increases towards the northwest
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In the United States, earthquake intensity is usually measured on the
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Modified Mercalli Scale.
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The phenomenon in which rocks snap back elastically to their prestress condition after an earthquake is called ____________________.
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Elastic rebound
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An earthquake of Richter magnitude 6 releases ________________ times as much energy as one of Richter magnitude 4.
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900
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Most magmas originate in the
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upper mantle.
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Mafic (iron-rich) lavas
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are low in viscosity and flow easily.
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Most volcanic activity on land areas occurs
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in association with subduction zones.
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The Columbia Plateau is an example of a
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fissure eruption.
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Subduction is the underlying cause of the
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volcanoes of the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest.
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_____________ is the volcanic, fine-grained compositional equivalent of granite.
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Rhyolite
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The collection of volcanoes rimming the Pacific Ocean is known as the
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ring of Fire
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Volcanologists
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can anticipate the likelihood of an explosive eruption.
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Concerning responses to eruption predictions, the safest course is to
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undertake precautionary evacuations.
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